Unable to determine this document's context within the printed volume.

John Adams to General Parsons

[dateline] Philadelphia August 19. 1776

[salute] Dear Sir

Your favours of the 13th and 15th are before me.4 The Gentlemen you recommend for Majors, Chapman and Dier [Dyer], will be recommended by the Board of War, and I hope agreed to in Congress.

I thank you for your Observations upon certain Field Officers. Patterson, Shepherd
and Brooks, make the best figure, I think, upon paper. If it is my misfortune, that
I have not the least Acquaintance with any of those Gentlemen, having never seen any
one of them, or heard his name, till lately. This is a little remarkable. Few Persons
{ 448 } in the Province, ever travelled over the whole of it more than I have, or had better
opportunities to know every conspicuous character. But I dont so much as know, from
what Parts of the Province Shepherd and Brooks come; of what families they are; their
Educations, or Employments.... Should be very glad to be informed.

Lt. Coll. Henshaw has been recommended to me by Coll. Reed for Promotion, as a usefull
Officer.... But upon the whole, I think the List you have given me, dont shine....
I am very much ashamed of it.... I am so vexed, sometimes as almost to resolve to
make Interest to be a Collonel, myself. I have almost Vanity enough to think, that
I could make a figure in such a group. But a treacherous shattered Constitution, is
an eternal Objection against my aspiring at military Command. If it were not for this
insuperable Difficulty, I should certainly imitate Old Noll Cromwell, in one particular,
that is, in launching into military Life, after forty, as much as I dislike his Character
and Example in others. But enough of this.

I wish I could find materials, any where in sufficient quantities, to make good Officers.
A brave and able Man, wherever he is, shall never want my Vote, for his Advancement:
nor shall an ignorant awkward dastard, ever want it, for his dismission. Congress
must assume an higher tone of discipline over Officers, as well as these over the
Men.

With regard to Encouragements in Money and in land, for Soldiers to inlist during
the War, I have ever been in favour of it as the best OEconomy and the best policy:
and I have no doubt, that rewards in Land, will be given after the War is over. But
the Majority are not of my mind, for promising, of it, now.5 ... I am the less anxious about it, for a reason, which does not seem to have much
weight, however, with the majority: Although, it may cost us more, and We may put
now and then, a battle, to a hazard, by the method We are in, Yet We shall be less
in danger of Corruption and Violence, from a Standing Army, and our Militia will acquire
Courage, Experience, Discipline and hardiness in actual Service. I wish every Man
upon the Continent was a Soldier, and obliged upon Occasion to fight, and determined
to conquer or to die.

Flight was unknown to the Romans.... I wish it was to Americans. There was a flight
from Quebec, and worse than a flight from the Caedars. If We dont attone for these
disgraces, We are undone.

A more exalted Love of their Country; a more enthusiastic Ardor { 449 } for military Glory; a deeper detestation, disdain, and horror of martial disgrace
must be excited among our People, or We shall perish in infamy.... I will certainly
give my Voice for devoting to the infernal Gods, every man, high or low, who shall
be convicted of bashfulness, in the day of battle.

[addrLine] Gen. Parsons.

P.S. Since the above was written, Congress has accepted the Report of the Board of
War, and appointed Dier and Chapman, Majors. I had much pleasure in promoting Dier,
not only from his own excellent Character, but from respect to my good friend his
father.